Barak calls diplomats ahead of Goldstone debate

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke with diplomats around the world in advance of a U.N. debate on the Goldstone report.

Barak spoke Tuesday evening with the foreign ministers of France, Britain, Spain and Norway, as well as other statesmen and diplomats, ahead of a special session of the Human Rights Council scheduled for Thursday.

"The democratic nations of the world must understand that adopting the report will cripple their ability to deal with terror organizations, and terror in general," Barak told them, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

The United Nations Security Council is expected to discuss the report Wednesday during its regular monthly meeting on the Middle East, which was moved up a week after a Libyan request for a special session to discuss the Goldstone report was turned down.

The Human Rights Council debate is also set to discuss the recent unrest in Jerusalem over the Temple Mount and the blockade of Gaza, Ha’aretz reported, citing a resolution that is set to be submitted by the Palestinian Authority.

The Goldstone report on Israel’s military operation in Gaza last winter accuses Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.